Chapter 40

I quickly grasped the current situation.

Right now, our army has 8,000 usable soldiers.

If we pick out those who are relatively fine among the soldiers returning from battle, we might be able to manage about 2,000 more.

Total of 10,000. Normally, this number wouldn’t be so utterly desperate…

But right now, the enemy is coming with an overwhelming force of over 30,000 troops.

Moreover, this isn’t a castle but a fortress. Since its defenses are weaker than a castle, it will definitely fall much quicker to siege weapons.

And yet… hold out here??

What the hell for???

Also, why did they say “set up camp where the enemy can be seen”?

If that prediction came out, there must be a reason. It’s always been like that until now.

It would’ve been nice if we could slowly sort out the possibilities,

but since the others were discussing and trying to come up with solutions in their own ways, it was important to stop thinking and not miss the conversation.

“Honestly, I think withdrawing from here would be best.”

Miguel nodded at Park’s words.

“Hmm… what about Lord’s approval?”

“Already sent a messenger. Judging by the date, it’s about time for the next instruction-bearing messenger to arrive…”

“What did you tell them?”

“News of defeat, General Kalintz being captured as a prisoner, and the message that our forces are almost depleted and may soon face invasion.”

“…Whether to wait for the messenger or take independent action, huh.”

Not long after Miguel pondered this,

a soldier entered the meeting room with perfect timing.

A bright red badge was clearly tied around his upper arm.

The person we needed now – a messenger.

“Messenger, just arrived! A message from Lord Lin Brance!”

“Ah! They say even tigers listen when called, good job showing up. So, what did Lord say?”

“…Here it is.”

The soldier handed over a paper with Lin’s handwriting, looking somewhat tense.

As Miguel read it, his expression grew darker and darker.

“Hey… Miguel General. What’s written there?”

“Hmm… hoooh…”

Without answering Park’s question, Miguel let out an unpleasant sound and then spoke to the messenger.

“Is this certain?”

“…Yes. It matches exactly what I heard directly from Lord.”

Everyone looked at Miguel’s face at that moment with expressions of ‘what on earth could it be?’

After staying silent for quite some time, Miguel finally opened his heavy mouth cautiously.

“…Lord ordered us to defend the fortress.”

“T-That…! Ah. Could reinforcements be on the way…?”

Park’s words made Miguel slowly nod.

“They left from Anel Castle.”

“Huh…? From Anel Castle…?”

Even if they left from Kelshtain Castle, it’d be tight. But leaving from Anel Castle means there’s absolutely no way we can defend this fortress from the Serpina Army.

‘What the heck is she thinking, that woman?’

Unless she wants all of us to either fight and get captured or die, there’s no way she’d give such an order.

And then…

Miguel revealed the answer to my doubts sooner than expected.

“…However.”

With that, Miguel continued in a despondent tone.

“Some commanders are scheduled to be redeployed for new missions, so they should leave the fortress immediately upon hearing this and proceed to their assignment locations to carry out their duties.”

“Huh?”

‘…No way.’

My bad premonition eventually became reality before my eyes.

“…Miguel Brown, Park, Lilia, Jaden. The four of you to Kelshtain Castle. And Jack, Silin, Swoen. The three of you return to Anel Castle to engage in new tasks…”

“…!!”

“The remaining commanders… have been ordered to defend the fortress until reinforcements arrive. Lord expects them to achieve glory…”

At last, everyone understood why Miguel had been stuttering and looked at the one person whose name wasn’t called in this place.

Iren Julieat.

Lin was still trying to snuff out her flame of life in this world-line too.

* * *

Let’s rewind time a bit.

Around the time the messenger Park sent arrived at Lin.

“Kalintz Brance… became a prisoner of the Ian Army…?”

While staring wide-eyed in shock, the messenger could only bow deeply without saying anything.

‘No… why…?’

Not long after, she too learned the truth of the war.

Rebellion at Cherryen Castle. Ian Army’s uprising.

An overly ambitious battle with 35,000 troops.

Why such an reckless battle occurred was something even without Strategist Parphale, anyone could figure out.

Big Brother judged it as “worth a try.”

Because I reinforced him with 10,000 soldiers?

‘You stupid… little Big Brother…!’

Ever since losing to the Lunarien Army, hasn’t he been restless to achieve merit?

Looks like he finally caused trouble.

I thought he was a reliable general because I trusted him enough to act without my approval, and indeed compared to the rash Chel, he seemed far more dependable, but it seems he misjudged after reporting the reinforcement of troops.

If I had sent more soldiers, Kalintz really could’ve captured Cherryen Castle.

There’s a difference between attacking Serpina Army’s castle and suppressing a newly rebellious small country.

Then the Brance Army could’ve planted their blue flag in the northern region – their dream goal.

When I thought about that, a face popped into her mind.

The man who insisted “sending soldiers is correct” – Swoen’s face.

“…!!!”

Lin’s eyes widened dramatically.

It’s the same as back then.

He was right.

‘This can’t be…!’

Moreover, he didn’t even advocate for defense.

He argued to gather as many troops as possible and attack the north.

At that moment, goosebumps ran down Lin’s entire body.

This feeling isn’t new.

She felt the same when the messenger announcing the Serpina Army’s invasion first arrived while she was acting as an envoy.

Even earlier, when she foresaw the Serpina Army’s attack on the Brance Army.

This time, did she predict the rebellion at Cherryen Castle?

‘Swen… how… how did you know this would happen?’

But.

The opportunity has passed.

Rather, an indecisive choice only made things worse.

If Lin herself hadn’t sent any reinforcements, no matter how impatient Kalintz was, he wouldn’t have pushed his luck.

The reason she didn’t fully support but gave ambiguous reinforcements was extremely simple.

Because Iren Julieat, who first advocated sending troops to the north… annoyed me.

So, is this my fault…?

‘…No. It’s not my fault…!’

Iren Julieat.

That name was irritating Lin again.

To Lin, she was a woman who strangely lacked trustworthiness.

Yeah. If we go into detail, she was a woman who didn’t appeal to her since childhood, even when her father was still alive.

In this situation, admitting her own mistake was something her pride, which had finally become the successor by surpassing her inferiority-complex ridden older brothers and ascending to the supreme position, wouldn’t allow.

Moreover, the fact itself that “she missed an opportunity by not listening to Iren” was strongly shaking her composure.

‘…Alright. If you’re right, then you need to prove it, don’t you?’

Anger-filled thoughts led her brain astray once again.

Why wouldn’t she listen to Swen, whom she personally recruited?

Isn’t everything because of Iren?

If the person who raised the argument wasn’t her, Miguel wouldn’t have interrupted the discussion, and the result would’ve been different.

So – the person who needs to “take responsibility” for this isn’t her but the one who brought it up.

It was an extremely arbitrary thought process, but sometimes rulers in absolute power positions are forgiven for being arbitrary.

Or rather, who dares to talk about forgiving or unforgiving her?

Anyway, reinforcements will be sent.

But since the only immediately available troops are the capital defense forces, this is unavoidable, isn’t it?

Surprisingly, after transferring responsibility, her mind felt lighter than expected.

At that moment.

An old memory of Iren’s voice surfaced in Lin’s head.

“Lord. Please trust me just once. I’ll surely establish merit.”

Merit, huh.

If she says so, how about letting her have it her way?

‘Go ahead and establish your merit. Prove that you’re not just talk, Iren.’

Thinking this way, Lin smirked.

In the Brance Army, falling out of favor with the ruler – the queen – was practically synonymous with death.

* * *

The silence in the meeting room where no one dared to speak was broken by Iren.

“I understand. I, Iren Julieat, shall follow Lord’s orders.”

“Iren General…”

“I’ll dedicate my entire being until reinforcements arrive to protect this fortress.”

A fortress built hastily by Kalintz in pursuit of achievements, which wasn’t particularly strategic from Brance Army’s perspective.

She pledged loyalty to the lord driving her towards certain death by defending such a fortress, just as she always did.

It must’ve been the same in every world-line.

All versions of Iren would obediently do whatever she was told –

and if she survived somehow, she would inevitably meet her end at the hands of her lord in the end.

“To all of you, please leave the fortress as soon as possible. It’ll become dangerous soon.”

“…”

Miguel couldn’t say anything while looking at her face.

Iren smiled understandingly and said,

“Don’t worry. I wield my sword for Lady Lin. Until this body burns away completely, I’ll only serve my lord.”

“…”

Miguel probably knows too.

How Iren is treated within Brance.

But there’s nothing he can do.

He lacks the strength to counter Lin’s massive will pushing Iren away.

But.

‘I can do it.’

Instinctively, I realized an opportunity had come to me.

The prediction from my Divinity 100 brain – [Set up camp where the enemy can be seen and hold out.]

I don’t understand why this prediction came, but one thing is certain.

If we follow orders and hold out, we’ll win this battle.

Unconditionally.

I’m confident I can “twist” Lin’s persistent and sinister will.

“…Then, I entrust it to you.”

“Understood. With your permission, I’d like to take some time caring for the wounded now. Is it alright if I leave early?”

“Go ahead.”

“Thank you.”

With that, Iren slowly exited the meeting room.

Once again, a situation where no one dared to speak followed.

Finally, I raised my hand.

“I have something to say.”

“…An opinion?”

Miguel asked me, looking somewhat weary.

Why?

Despite this situation, I wasn’t anxious at all.

I wasn’t angry either. Instead, it felt like the burden of having to persuade someone had been lifted.

Iren won’t die here.

Although driven to certain death by the ruler, ironically, this place isn’t a dead end.

Because – the absolute answer has already surfaced in my mind.

I slowly began speaking.

“I will stay here.”

* * *

“What?”

Miguel stared at Swoen in shock, then regained his composure and asked.

“…Excuse me, but may I ask your name?”

“My name is Swoen.”

“Ah. Swoen. You’re one of the generals who came with General Iren recently, aren’t you? Anyway… what do you mean by staying here?”

“I intend to help General Iren resist.”

“What?”

At Swoen’s words, the previously quiet meeting room started buzzing with murmurs.

Miguel was also at a loss.

‘Staying here to resist, huh?’

Sounds noble, but anyone who’s eaten the Brance Army’s salary knows what’s going on.

Lady Lin Brance is currently driving Iren to certain death.

The fact that she’s disliked by Lord Lin is common knowledge among those who’ve served in the Brance Army for a long time.

Moreover, sending reinforcements from Anel Castle instead of Kelshtain Castle is problematic.

It’s like showing the other commanders “we’ve done our part.”

Though few people will fall for it, doing something is better than doing nothing, after all.

But… despite seeing this, you want to stay here and help her?

“Uh… well, I guess it’s natural to want to fight for our army. But do you… know?”

Miguel said seriously.

“Refusing Lord’s summons is tantamount to defying Lord’s orders. This is a problem that precedes your patriotism.”

“But isn’t this fortress built under the direct command of Mr. Kalintz? Given that, I’d rather fight to the end rather than abandon it.”

“Hooh…”

At that moment.

Parc beside Miguel thought carefully.

‘Now that I think about it… this guy often praised Kalintz.’

If Parc were smarter, he might’ve noticed that “he placed Kalintz instead of Iren in a dangerous front-line position.”

But he wasn’t that smart.

Thus, he simplified the situation.

‘Is he trying to latch onto Kalintz’s network?’

Kalintz Brance.

Though captured, he probably won’t die.

Executing him directly might have some utility, but from Ian Army’s perspective, they’d likely fear future repercussions.

Even if the Serpina Army recaptures Cherryen Castle and takes over the prisoner, using him as diplomatic leverage would be much wiser – thus, the possibility of him surviving captivity is high.

There’s also a decent chance of breaking out during the chaos.

At least if you plan to serve in the Brance Army for a long time, riding Kalintz’s strong backing instead of dealing with the difficult-to-please Lady Lin or the somewhat tyrannical Chel sounds like a pretty smart decision.

If he survives, everything this young man named Swoen does here will move Kalintz’s heart.

‘So, he’s throwing his life to climb the ranks.’

Though the probability is slim, if this becomes known, he’ll likely rise through the ranks in the Brance Army with Kalintz as his solid backing.

Young newcomers like him sometimes show such audacity for success.

Parc himself is too old now, prioritizing experience over ambition.

That’s why.

Parc wanted to help this young newcomer do as he pleased.

If the outcome is death, that’s something he’ll have to bear himself, isn’t it?

Of course, all of this was Parc’s misunderstanding.

“General Miguel. It’s probably best to let him do as he wishes.”

“What…?”

“Though reinforcements did leave from Anel Castle, they are coming. General Iren is highly capable, and isn’t this for the sake of our army? Who knows, maybe a miracle will happen?”

“…”

Hearing Parc’s words, Miguel fell into thought for a moment, then remembered the limited time they had left.

Indeed.

From his standpoint too, there’s only so long he can spare worrying about a moth flying into burning flames.

“…Alright. I’ll do my best to convey your intentions to Lord.”

* * *

That’s right.

That’s what I wanted to hear.

I bowed deeply and replied.

“I’ll make sure to deliver good news.”

“Hm. Counting on you.”

He doesn’t seem to expect much, but he’ll be surprised.

There’s no way this fortress will fall.

Whatever happens, the water has been spilled.

Now is the time to do what only I can do.

‘Let’s go.’

Iren Julieat.

To prevent her flame of life from being extinguished.